Cambridge City Council
How Cambridge Is Fighting the Trump Administration in Court
The city of Cambridge has joined two lawsuits against the Trump administration’s attempts to condition federal grants on cooperation with immigration agents and the repeal of DEI efforts.
City Council Approves Compromise in $21M BioMed Deal After Backlash From Nonprofit Coalition
The Cambridge City Council approved a compromise to redistribute part of the $21 million in community benefit funding that BioMed Realty initially agreed give to East End House, a community center serving low-income Cambridge residents.
Cambridge City Council Strengthens Sanctuary City Ordinance
The Council voted unanimously to tighten the city’s Welcoming Community Ordinance, a 40-year-old policy limiting cooperation between the Cambridge Police Department and federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.
Cambridge Plans To File Amicus Brief Supporting Harvard in Lawsuit Over International Students
The City of Cambridge plans to file an amicus brief supporting Harvard’s lawsuit against attempts by President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to revoke its ability to enroll international students.
City Councilors Learned of Allegations Against Toner Long Before Brothel Charges Became Public
Five members of the Cambridge City Council were notified in January 2024 that Paul F. Toner had allegedly patronized a brothel network — more than a year before Toner was publicly named in the case.
Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, Facing Charges in Brothel Case, Will Not Seek Reelection
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner announced on Monday that he will not seek reelection after facing charges related to patronizing a high-end brothel, setting up a potentially fierce battle for an open seat on the nine-member City Council.
In Feud Over Nonprofit’s Deal With BioMed, Cambridge State Reps. Take Sides
At Cambridge City Council meeting on Monday, two of the city’s state representatives weighed in on a partnership between the East End House and BioMed that sits at the center of a public dispute over transparency and nonprofit funding.
City Council Moves Forward With Broadway Bike Lane Plan Despite Objections Over Parking Loss
The Cambridge City Council voted to continue with its plan to install separated bike lanes along Broadway Street despite traffic concerns on Monday, rejecting a proposed policy order that would temporarily suspend the project.
Cambridge City Council Votes To Strengthen Sanctuary Ordinance Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
The Cambridge City Council voted to strengthen restrictions on local police collaboration with federal immigration enforcement on Monday, citing “increasingly aggressive federal actions.”
DHS List Names Cambridge, Boston Among 200 Sanctuary Cities It Says Are Obstructing Immigration Enforcement
Cambridge and Boston are among the hundreds of sanctuary cities nationwide that the Department of Homeland Security accused of defying federal law on a list designed to expose localities that the Trump administration says are obstructing its immigration crackdown.
Cambridge Super PACs: The Biggest Names Not on the Ballot
Local super PACs, through fundraising and endorsements, have reshaped political discourse throughout Cambridge, raising the stakes — and the price tag — of the city's elections.
Harvard Chabad Seeks Zoning Amendments as Expansion Plans Move Forward
Harvard Chabad appeared before the Cambridge City Council on Tuesday as a part of an ongoing effort to advance zoning changes — supporting its plans for the expansion of its building on Banks Street.
Cambridge Police Commissioner Elow Confirms ICE Arrest in Cambridge
Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine A. Elow confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested at least one individual in the city, but made it clear at Monday’s City Council meeting that the department will not assist ICE agents.
14 More Defendants, Including City Councilor, Plead Not Guilty in Cambridge Brothel Case
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner and 13 other men pleaded not guilty to sexual conduct for a fee at Cambridge District Court on Friday morning, officially advancing their cases to trial.
Cambridge Opts To Close Transition Wellness Center, Asks To Allocate $1 Million for Housing Vouchers
The Cambridge City Council voted to close the Transition Wellness Center on Monday, ending a monthslong debate as they requested a $1 million allocation for housing vouchers to support residents’ transitions to alternative sites.
City Council Unanimously Passes $280 Million Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for Cambridge Public Schools
The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to approve the $280 million Cambridge Public Schools budget for fiscal year 2026 at a Tuesday meeting. The budget increases the district’s funding by $12 million.
City Council Asks State Legislature To Let Cambridge Ban Tenant-Paid Broker Fees
The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to file a home rule petition requesting state approval to eliminate tenant-paid broker fees in a meeting last week, following similar petitions in Boston and Somerville.
Former Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem Mazen Arrested on Charges of Alleged Kidnapping, Assault
Cambridge Police Department arrested former Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem A. Mazen three weeks ago, after he allegedly kidnapped and physically assaulted a woman in a Cambridge hotel.
Community Safety Department Director To Resign Amid Tension With Cambridge Police Department
The director of Cambridge’s Community Safety Department is resigning after more than two years in the role — the latest turn for a department that has found itself embroiled in behind-the-scenes turmoil with the city’s police department.
Cambridge City Manager Defends Budget Process That Left Councilors Frustrated
Even as Cambridge City Councilors express frustration over funding allocation, City Manager Yi-An Huang ‘05 defended his financial decisions as Cambridge’s budget growth slows.
Behind Closed Doors, A Turf War Over ‘Alternative Response’ to Policing in Cambridge City Hall
The Cambridge Police Department and the city’s Community Safety Department developed parallel ways to reimagine public safety. They’ve struggled to work together since.
CIRC Discusses Increasing Legal Aid Resources for Immigrants, ICE Protocol in Weekly Meeting
The Cambridge Commission for Immigrant Rights and Citizenship met Tuesday to discuss the challenges facing immigrants under the Trump administration.
‘Booker’ of Cambridge Brothel Network Sentenced to One Year in Prison
Junmyung Lee — the “booker” of the high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Washington, D.C. suburbs — was sentenced to one year in prison on Friday.
Cambridge City Council Begins Contentious Budget Discussion Amid Stagnation
Amid federal budget cuts and a slowdown in development, the Cambridge City Council began its most substantive conversations on the city’s budget on Monday.
City Council Proposes Amendments to Update City Charter, While Avoiding Most Contentious Ideas
City councilors approved a draft of amendments to the city charter on Monday as part of Cambridge’s first decennial charter review, even as they avoided some of the most contentious recommendations that emerged.